Automatic regulator for air and gas compressors.



PATBNTED MAY 7, 1907.

F. B. NORTON. AUTOMATIC REGULATOR FOR AIR'AND GAS GOMPRESSORS.

urmonxon rrL'nn APR.11,1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES INVENTOR $5M @mw 'No. 852,976. PATENTED MAY 7, 1907.

P. B. NORTON.

AUTOMATIC REGULATOR FOR AIR AND GAS OOMPRESSORS. I APPLICATION FILED APR.11,1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Maw W $24M No. 852,976. PATENTED MAY 7, 1907. F. B. NORTON. AUTOMATIC REGULATOR FOR AIR AND GAS GOMPRESSORS. APPLICATION FILED APR.11,1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET s.

INVENTOR fa. 47%.;

/AMM

PATENTED MA-Wi; v, 1907.

F. E. NORTON. AUTOMATIC REGULATOR FOR AIRAND GAS 'OOMPRESSORS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.11

INVENTOR fl- M WITNESSES s'ra'rs ATE FFIC.

FRED E. NORTON, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED E. NORTON, of Youngstown, Mahoning county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Automatic Regulator for Air and Gas Compressors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of compressor embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is-a side view, partly broken away, showing a modified arrangement of the governor; Fig. 4 is a side view, partly in section showing the invention applied to a compressor having a difierent'form of valves; and Fig. 5 is an end view of Fig. 4.

The object of this invention is to provide means for the automatic regulation ofair or gas compressors, whereby the quantity of air or gas delivered by the compressor may be varied so as to cause the compressor to deliver a small quantity of air or gas at a high pressure, or a larger quantity at a lower pressure, or to deliver a variable quantity at a constant pressure. I accomplish this by me ansof certain novel mechamsm whereby the inlet of air or gas tothe compressor cylinder is regulated by'means of a governor, so that at maximum normal speed the compressor will deliver its full capacity of air,

while at lower speeds the governor will reduce the quantity of air delivered and hence the power required to operate the compressor.

'My invention also consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of arts all substantially as hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring first to the form of compressor shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, of the drawing, in which the valves are of the circular or Corliss type, the numerals 2 designate the inlet valves for the compressor cylinder 3. These valves are actuated by link connections 4 with the arms of a rocker 5, which is, in turn, actuated by an eccentric rod 6 from an eccentric 7 on the main shaft 8. The action of this eccentric is controlled by agovernor consisting of weights 9 mountedon arms 10 ivoted at 11 to fly-wheel 12. The centrifugal force of the weights 9 is resisted by means of springs 13, which are con- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 11.

Patented May 7. 1907.

1906. Serial No. 311,033.

I nected at one end to the fly-whccl and at the i other end to the links 14 and 14 which connect the'arms 10 with the eccentric 7 The arms 10 and the links 14 are connected by links 15. The arrangement of these )arts is such that as the weights 9 are moved by contrifugal force of rotation, the eccentric is rotated around the shaft 8. When the weights move outwardly, the direction of this rotation is in the same direction as that of the shaft 8, and when the weights move inwardly, the eccentric is rotated in the opposite direction.

The governor-arrangement shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1, with the exception that instead of mounting the parts upon the fly-wheel, they are mounted upon. a governor wheel 16 on the shaft 8. Each of the inlet valves 2 is mounted in a valve chamber 1.7 having an inlet port 18 and cylinder admission port 19. Above each valve 2 is a second valve 20, mounted in the valve chamber 21 which has an inlet port 22, a cylinder admission port 23 and an outlet port 24, the latter communicating with the'discharge port 25 of the compressor through a third valve 26, which is also of the cylindrical type. The valves 20 are operated by a connection 27 with an eccentric 28 on the shaft 8, which has a fixed movement relatively to that of the compressor piston. The valves 26 are operated by pistons 29 working in cylinders 30, and connected with the res ective valves through the piston rods 31 lin s 32 and arms 33. The cylinders are connected at one side of the iston by a ipe 34 which communicates wit 1 the cylinger 3 and gives full cylinder pressure to that side of the piston 29. Each cylinder 30 is connected at the opposite side of the piston by pipe 35, which communicates with the discharge ort 25. of the compressor. The full area 0 each of the pistons 29 is thereby exposed to cylinder pressure "at one side, While the annular area at the opposite side of the piston is exposed to discharge ressure, the comparatively small area 0 the plunger being also exposed to atmospheric pressure. By reason of this arrangement, the valves 26 may be made to open before the pressurein thecylinder equals the pressure in the discharge port, thus securing a prompt discharge of air from the cylinder. The inlet valves 2 control the admission of air to the cylinder through the ports 19.

The valves outlet valves, their motion having a definiterelation to the piston motion in the way usual for compressors. These valves admit air to the cylinder 3 through the. ports 22 and 23near the beginning of the forward or suction stroke of the" piston, and close such ports at the end of said stroke. They also control the communication between the cylinder and the exhaust port l i, the latter being positively open near the beginning of the compression stroke, and closed near the end of such stroke. While these valves positively open the communication between the discharge. ports 23 and 24, air or gas cannot, however, be discharged from the cylinder until the valves 26 are in position to connect the ports 24 and 24. The action of the inlet l l l valve 2, as will be seen, is controlled by the action ,of the governor. When the compressoris running at slow speed, the governor weights 9 are at their innermost positions, and the eccentric 7 is so set that at this time'the inlet valve 2 leaves the port 19 open for any desired part of the compression stroke of the piston, air being thus expelled through this port, and the port 18, without being compressed. As the speed of the compressor increases, the weights 9 move outwardly, the eccentric 7 is advanced, and the port 19 is consequently closed earlier in the compression stroke of the piston, so thata larger guantity of air or gas is retained in the cyhn er and 1s compressed.

In the form oi compressor shown in Figs. 4

and 5, 36 designates the main inlet valves;

Each of these valves is of cylindrical form and slides longitudinally on a barrel .37 so as to control the cylinder admission port These valves also control the communication between the cylinder and the exhaust chamber 39 in such a manner that this communication is open 'near the beginning of the co1npression stroke, and is closed at the end of the compression stroke, while the port 38 is open near the beginning of the suction stroke and closed near the end of such stroke, The valves 3.6 are operated by connections 40. with an eccentric on the main shalt which has a fixed travel relatively to the movement of the compressor piston, in the same manner as the eccentric 28 of the compressor first described. The valves 36, as will be seen, corresponding in function to the valves 20 of the compressor first described, being combined inlet and outlet valves having a definite movement relatively to the piston motion. The valves 36 positively open the communication with the exhaust chambers 39, but the discharge of the air or gas into the delivery chamber 41 cannot take place until the open ing of a supplementary valve 42, which controls the communication between the chambers or discharges 39 and 41. The valve 42 is shown as being a pot valve, corresponding 20 operate as combined inlet and in function to the valves 26 of the compressor first described. This valve has a closing spring 13 and is preferably opened by means similar to that shown for operating the valves 26. Above the valve 36 is a ring valve 44, which is arranged to slide on a barrel 4-5, and which controls the port 4-6 which connects the cylinder with the inlet chamber 47. The chamber 48 in the interior of the barrel 45 is always in communication with the cylinder, and pot valve 49 similar to the valve 42 is provided for controlling the communication between the chamber 48 and the discharge passage 41, said valve being always free to lift and discharge air from the cylinder in case of excessive pressure.

This valve has a' closing spring 50. This spring is preferably somewhat stronger than the spring 43, so

that normally the valve 42-will control the normal discharge, while the valve 49 will lift any accidental overpressure occurs in the cylinder. suitable connection with a governor, similar to that described for operating the valves 2.

in the compressor first described, so that it has a motion whichvaries in phase from the normal so as to remain open for a greater or less part of the compression stroke, as deter mined by the position of the governor. The operation of this form of the invention is substantially similar to that of the form first described.

It is not necessary that the governor controlled eccentric and governor therefor be mounted directly on the driving shaft 8 of The valve 44 is driventhrough a the compressor as shown, nor'that the arrangement of governor weights and s rings be that shown in the drawings, since may employ fly-wheel governors of any well known type. It is also obvious that various forms of valves may be employed which will accomplish the same purpose as the forms herein described.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to control the main inleirvalve so that its point of closing maybe regulated, while the point of opening remains constant. the quiet and perfect operation of a compressor that the opening of the inlet valve be just at the point when the air in the clearance has expanded to the inlet pressure. A variation irom'this condition leads to noisy and destructive action of the valves, since delayed opening means that a partial vacuum is formed in the cylinder causing noisy action and lifting of the inlet valves, while an accelerated opening results in the air being blown out of the clearance violently and in noisy action of the outlet valves. To avoid this action, I provide that the main inlet It is essential to- As shown and described, it-

is impossible for this auxiliary valve to have any eifect on the opening event controlling the admission of air to the cylinder. The main valve will always control this event since however much I delay the closing of the auxiliary valve, the opening will be similarly delayed, which has no effect on the compressor as regards time of action, since the main inlet valve will already be open. At the extreme of delivery at full stroke, the auxiliary valve will open at the same, or substantially the same, time as the main inlet valve, while at the other extreme, the auxiliary inlet valve will close at the end of discharge stroke and remain closed during the entire inlet stroke.

My invention is of peculiar advantage in compressors which are driven by gas engines, or other motive power, in which the turning efl'ort is mainly independent of the speed through a small range, since the. governor weights and springs may be so proportioned as to rotate the eccentric through its full movement, while the speed change may be as small or as large as the nature of the driving power demands. In starting up such a compressor the load is automatically removed, since the valve 2, or 44, will remain open during the whole or greater part of the compression stroke of the piston. When normal speed is reached, however, the compressor will deliver the maximum volume of air.

The invention is also of great advantage in connection with blowing engines or blast furnaces which are operated with furnace gases. In such engines it has been necessary heretofore to provide for a great excess of power in the design of the engine, in order to drive the.

air pistons against high pressure with poor gas. This is obviated by my invention, by reason of the self-adjustment of the blowing capacity to the quality of fuel supplied. It is also essential that engines used for this purpose shall not accidentally stop when exposed to sudden variations in' ressure, and this is guarded against by t e improved valvegear described, which permits the engine to run at nearly full speed against any desired pressure. Itis also essential for blast furnace purposes to deliver very little air at times and at very low pressure. This may be accomplished by my improved compressors by simply adjusting the main governor so as to run the engine at near the lower limit ofthe fly-wheel governor, which will cause the engine to run at nearly full speed but to deliver very little air.

What I claim is:

1. In a compressor, the combination of a combined inlet and outlet valve havinga motion which is fixed relative to that of the piston, and an auxiliary inlet valve having an automatic variable motion controlled by a governor to thereby vary the capacity of the compressor; substantially as described.

2. In a compressor, a combined inlet and 1 outlet valve, an auxiliary inlet valve, and a speed governor for controlling the operation of the auxiliary valve, substantially as described.

A blowing engine having a main inlet valve, and an auxiliary inlet valve, and a speed governor controlled operating mechanism for said auxiliary valve; substantially as described.

4. In a compressor, the combination with a combined inlet and outlet valve having a fixed motion relative to the movement of the compressor piston, of an auxiliary automatic outlet valve, and a supplementary inlet valve having a variable movement controlled by a speed governor substantially as described.

5. In a compressor, the combination with a combined inlet and outlet valve having a fixed motion relative to that of the compressor piston, of an auxiliary automatic outet valve, and a supplementary inlet valve having a variable motion controlled by a speed governor, whereby its point of closing is controlled by said governor to thereby vary the amount of air caught and com ressed in the cylinder, the main inlet valve liaving its movement so timed as to determine positively the time of admission during the inlet stroke and to open and close. the discharge passage at or near the end of the stroke; substantially as described.

6. In a com ressor, the combination with a combined in et and outlet valve having a fixed motion relative to that of the compressor piston, of an auxiliary automatic valve arranged to cohtrol the opening of the cylinder discharge, and means whereby said valve may be opened before the cylinder pressure is sufiicient to balance the pressure of the discharge; substantially as described.

7. In a com ressor, the combination with a combined in ct and outlet valve, having a fixed motion relative to that of the compressor piston, an auxiliary outlet valve, means for operating the auxiliary valve controlled by t e ressures inthe compressor cylinder and discliarge pipe, an auxiliary inlet valve, and a speed governor for controlling the operation of said inlet valve whereby said valve is closed at a varying point in the compression stroke of the piston; substantially as de scribed.

8. In a compressor, a combined inlet and outlet valve, connections for operating said valve in definite time relation to the piston motion of the compressor,-and an auxiliary inlet valve independent of the first named valve, and connected-to the engine governor and controlled thereby, said valve being arranged to leave its inlet port open during any desired art of the compression stroke; substantial y as described.

9. In a compressor, a main-inlet valve,

&

connections for operating said valve in defi 'nite time relation to the piston strokeoi the compressor, and a governor-controlled auxiliary inlet valve arranged to leave its inlet port open during any desired part of the compression stroke; substantially as described.

10. In a compressor, a combined main inlet and outlet valve, connections for operating the same in definite relation to the piston motion, an auxiliary outlet valve controlled by the pressure in the cylinder and arranged to open the discharge port before the pressure seams iliary inlet valve controlled by the governor;

substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand;

FRED E. NORTON.

Witnesses:

REGINALD R. DRYER, PETER KIRKEVAAG. 

